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  5. Citizenship requirements

Citizenship requirements

To meet the citizenship and residency requirements for a FEE-HELP loan you must be:

  • An Australian citizen studying at least partly in Australia, or
  • The holder of a permanent humanitarian visa who will be resident in Australian for the duration of your program, or
  • the holder of a permanent visa who is undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals who will be resident in Australian for the duration of your program

Australian citizenship

You may automatically acquire Australian citizenship by birth or adoption, or may apply for Australian citizenship by descent or conferral. If you are over 16 years of age at the time you make your application for citizenship by conferral, you will obtain Australian citizenship only after you have made the pledge of commitment and have been issued with Evidence of Australian Citizenship from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). The University is unable to accept the letter advising you that you will become and Australian Citizen. You must have attended the ceremony before changing your details with the University. You will also be required to produce your Evidence of Australian Citizenship to the University.

Residency requirements

In determining whether you are resident in Australia for the duration of your course any period of residence outside Australia will be disregarded if:

  • it cannot reasonably be regarded as indicating an intention to reside outside Australia for the duration of the course, or
  • it is required for the purpose of completing a requirement of that course.

New Zealand citizens

New Zealand citizens are not eligible for FEE-HELP, unless they are also Australian citizens or holders of a permanent visa who are undertaking bridging study for overseas-trained professionals and will be resident in Australia for the duration of their units.

Please note: most New Zealand citizens who arrive in Australia are the holders of a temporary visa called a Special Category Visa (SCV). This is not a permanent visa.